spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Sept 10, 2007 21:52:41 GMT -5
I have a dilemma, for just right now I have this malachite cab:  I want to put it up for sale, and I have around 4 or 5 more inches of it yet to be cut and cabbed. I really like this stuff, the trouble is that it is toxic if swallowed. What kind of warnings do I post with it? I do not want to be so cryptic that no one will buy it but yet they need to know. Spike |
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Post by Lady B on Sept 10, 2007 22:04:28 GMT -5
Hey Spike, I've read several times now that malachite is toxic but when I do a search all I can find is info on malachite green--used as a medication. Mindat.org lists this info for Malachite: "There is no specific data on health dangers or toxicity for this mineral, however you should always treat mineral samples as potentially toxic/dangerous and use sensible precautions when handling them." Perhaps you could simply use that as a precautionary message when posting your malachite cabs. Link: www.mindat.org/min-2550.htmlLady B |
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spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Sept 10, 2007 22:27:45 GMT -5
Yes, I had read that. I have also read this "Do not handle Malachite unless it has been polished" .
I can just see some new mother holding her infant who looks down to see it sucking on the pendant she is wearing and thinking, well it is just a rock.
While I trust Minedat, they have 15 tons of info to distribute so have to be careful with what they say so take the middle of the road when it comes to liability stuff.
Maybe I should just forget the whole thing. I just hate to as it is so pretty.
Spike
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 10, 2007 23:12:39 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry about it Spike. I've always heard is asperrated dry dust that is the most toxic and heck most dry rock dust is dangerous if it gets in the lungs. That's why we grind and sand wet in the first place. Once polished, I really don't believe there's much problem unless the person is allergic to copper oxides ( and heck if you're gonna worry that way, more than a few folks are allergic to silver oxide). If we're were gonna be that worried we'd have to post notice that cabs can choke ya if ya swallow them....Mel
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Post by akansan on Sept 10, 2007 23:44:08 GMT -5
I agree with Mel. Everything I've read about malachite is that it's most toxic in the dry dust form. I've purchased malachite finished pieces before without any warnings attached - even chatted with the makers of a few of the pieces.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Sept 11, 2007 0:11:12 GMT -5
There are hundreds of thousands of similar cabs on the market and already sold . Not a warning on one of em. The only concern is the grinding and polishing. Messin with a warning label is hardly necessary and will only cost you a sale.
My .02
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Post by LCARS on Sept 12, 2007 3:09:44 GMT -5
I have to agree that unless you are chewing on it, malachite should not represent a significant enough health risk to warrant a "warning".  All the precautions with it seem to be related only to working the material when you have the potential for dust inhalation and little bits flying off of it. A finished malachite piece should not be shedding enough material with normal handling to cause any effect, unless maybe you have a freakish contact alergy to it or something.  |
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Sept 12, 2007 10:39:25 GMT -5
Think of ALL the jewelry type things malachite has been used in and all the other rock/minerals that could possibly be classed as "may be hazardous". In any store, anywhere...have you ever seen a sign that gave warnings?
Sell it my man...throw caution to the wind...cab away!
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